Silence is Goldfish

Tess, a teenage girl, makes the sudden decision to stop speaking after discovering a devastating secret about her family. Armed only with a toy light-up goldfish, she navigates her daily life in complete silence. Her self-imposed muteness affects every aspect of her world - from school to home life to friendships. The story follows her internal monologue and observations as she processes her emotions through silence. Life continues around Tess as she holds firm to her vow, forcing both her and those close to her to find new ways to communicate and understand each other. Her goldfish becomes her confidant and voice of reason throughout her journey. The novel explores themes of identity, truth, and the power of silence as a form of both protest and self-discovery. Through Tess's experience, it examines how families cope with secrets and the complex dynamics between parents and children.

Readers describe the book as a realistic portrayal of selective mutism and teenage anxiety, though some found the internal monologue style challenging to follow. Readers appreciated: - The authentic teenage voice and humor - Representation of complex family dynamics - The fish-shaped torch as a metaphor - Treatment of serious themes without becoming too heavy Common criticisms: - Plot developments in the second half felt unrealistic - Some side characters lacked depth - The ending felt rushed and incomplete - The protagonist's internal dialogue became repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.3/5 (90+ ratings) Amazon US: 3.8/5 (40+ ratings) One reader noted: "The story captures teenage emotions perfectly but loses its way near the end." Another commented: "The torch conversations were creative at first but became tiresome." Several reviewers mentioned struggling to connect with the main character's decisions in the latter chapters.

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🗣️ Selective mutism, like Tess experiences in the book, affects about 1 in 1,400 children and is more common in girls than boys. 🎭 Annabel Pitcher wrote her first novel, "My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece," while teaching English in Spain, and it went on to win multiple awards. 📚 The goldfish motif in the book connects to an ancient Chinese belief that goldfish represent good fortune and perseverance through adversity. 🎓 Before becoming an author, Pitcher worked as a secondary school English teacher, giving her unique insight into teenage experiences and school dynamics. 🌟 The book's themes of identity and silence were partly inspired by Pitcher's own teenage experiences of feeling voiceless in certain situations, as she revealed in interviews.